issued on BAM November 21, 1980
The Central will be presenting a Riot on the Sunset Strip
when the
Unclaimed, one of the most exciting new bands around town, play the new Sunset Strip Avenue.
For those who haven't heard about the Unclaimed, we'll tell you that they take their cue from
American psychedelic-punk bands of the late '60s, performing original material that sounds
remarkably and chillingly like the Standells, the Seeds, and the Chocolate Watch Band. The
Watchband, of course, appeared in the classic film Riot on the Sunset Strip
, which
showed rebellious Hollywood teens taking acid and clashing with brutish local police. Great
stuff. Central booker Howard Paar says he's searching for members of the cast of that film to
come to the show, and he also adds, "Bring your own acid!" Meanwhile, anyone who
wants a crash course in psychedelic-punk is advised to pick up a copy of the Sire Records
compilation album Nuggets
, which was compiled a few years back by Patti Smith Group
guitarist Lenny Kaye.
-§-
issued on New York Rocker
This L.A. band, which uncannily recreates
the sound and look of the 1966-67 Sunset Strip punk explosion in person, sounds a bit muffled
on its debut release. But the songs, the sound, and the acidic lyrics are all here, especially
on Deposition Central (The Acid Song)
and Run From Home
. Without a doubt, one
of L.A.'s finest.
-§-
by Patrick Goldstein
Now that the acid-drenched '60s are back in vogue - even the Fonz has grown a
beard - it was only a matter of time before rock 'n' roll got on the bandwagon. England has
the Psychedelic Furs, but now the local scene has its own entry, a mop-topped crew called the
Unclaimed.
Sporting black turtlenecks and hairdos that only Brian Jones' hairdresser could love, the quintet
plays the kind of psychedelic-punk rock popularized by '60s garage bands like the Seeds and
the Chocolate Watch Band. The band does nearly all originals, with apt titles like Cryptic
Message
and Acid Song
. The Unclaimed play the Central Dec. 19
- just keep an eye on the punch.
-§-
The Bomp psychedelic compilation, Battle of the Garages
, is in the stores.
It's got a really bitchen cover that looks like a comic book and songs by the Unclaimed and
Crawdaddys. The Unclaimed, about whom I cannot say enough since the addition of Rich Whatisname
on guitar and keyboards and the addition of a new pawnshop-bought National guitar to the instrumentation,
will be at the O.N. Klub this Thursday with 100 Flowers.
-§-
1) The Seeds - The Seeds
2) No Way Out - Chocolate Watch Band
3) Psychotic Reaction - Count Five
4) I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night - The Electric Prunes
5) Little Girl - Syndicate of Sound
6) Turn On! - Music Machine
7) Dirty Water - The Standells
8) Primitive - The Groupies (single)
9) 96 Tears - ? and the Mysterians
10) Psychedelic Sounds - The Thirteenth Floor Elevators